Love your lippy? Find out how you can use it for a good cause

WOMEN everywhere (and maybe a few brave men) are being called on to get involved in the Liptember challenge during the month of September to raise awareness for women's mental health issues.

Participants are being encouraged to "kiss away the blues" by signing up online, purchasing an official Liptember lippy from Chemist Warehouse, My Chemist or My Beauty Spot and wearing it every time they leave the house for the entire month.

Lippy lovers can then ask their friends and family to sponsor them online, with all funds going to help support women's mental health issues.

Reader poll

How often do you wear lipstick or lip gloss?

This poll ended on 16 September 2013.

Current Results

Any time I'm awake I have something on my lips

23%

When I leave the house

28%

It depends on the occasion

9%

Only on days when I feel like it

23%

Very rarely

4%

Never

9%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

To celebrate and support this great cause, we thought we'd look into the world of lipstick:

Gone are the days of only having a few shades to choose from - with popular brands such as Revlon and Australis offering many shades from oranges to browns, pinks and purples.

Taking the love to colour to the extreme, online brands such as Lime Crime and Barry M Cosmetics offer everything from glitter lippies, to shades of green, sky blue, opaque yellow and black.

Lip tattoos have also come into play in the last couple of years (and no, we don't mean the painful kind of tattoo).

Lip tattoos are like a temporary tattoo for your lips which adheres with water, meaning pretty patterns ranging from stripes, flags, animal prints, hearts and dots can now sit pretty on your pout.

It seems there's literally a colour - or pattern - for everyone.

And which colour is tipped to be big this season? According to the style gurus - orange will be on the lips of forward-thinking fashionistas everywhere.

Reader poll

What is the ultimate lipstick colour?

This poll ended on 16 September 2013.

Current Results

Yellow

0%

Orange

6%

Pink

46%

Purple

0%

Blue

0%

Green

0%

Brown

13%

Gold

0%

Black

0%

Red

33%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

What your favourite lipstick colour says about you:

Yellow - intellect, optimism and cheerfulness.

Green - Growth, positivity and self-confidence.

Blue - Trust, peace and loyalty.

Purples, plums and mauves - Imagination and creativity.

Pink - Girly, nurturing and loving.

Golds - Success, achievement and luxury.

Black - Mystery and intrigue.

Brown - Honesty and straightforwardness.

Orange - Individuality, warmth and flair.

Red - Sensual, passionate and determined.

Reader poll

What kind of make-up do you prefer on your lips?

This poll ended on 16 September 2013.

Current Results

Lipstick

45%

Lip gloss

45%

Lip stain

9%

Other

0%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

Fun lipstick facts:

The Lipstick Index was a term coined by Leonard Lauder of Estee Lauder to describe the increase in lipstick sales that occurs when the economy is suffering. The rationale is that women who can't afford other things, will buy lipstick to feel good about themselves.

Lippy took off in England in the 1500s, and at the time was made from bees wax and red plant stains.

Unusual shades of lipstick like green and blue started to be marketed in the 1970s, but have never really gained mainstream popularity.

Some people like their lip gloss and balm so much that online support groups have spring up to help them deal with their "addiction".